Suakin - a city of mythical legends and tales
26 April, 2013Suakin , East Sudan, (Sudanow)-The ancient city of Suakin of East Sudan, about 845 kilometers east of Khartoum, still stands as a land of myths, tales and signs of a significant epoch of history.
It lies on the western coast of the Red Sea on latitude 19.5̊ N and altitude 37.5̊ E and is about 61 km south of Port Sudan.
Various legends and tales are told about the name of the city the building date of which still remains unknown. Some legends say its original name was Sawajin (prisons) where King Solomon, the Prophet, used to imprison the dijins (Satans) who mutinied against his authority.
Other tales say the name is derived from the Bija word o-sook which means suq (the market o-is the definite (the) marker souk- the market).
Others believe that its origin was an Arab derived from the Arabic word suq, supporting this assumption with arrival of Arab groups who crossed the Red Sea from the Arabian Peninsula and mingled with the natives.
“The disagreement over the name reflects the ambiguity that is surrounding the very building of the city the date of which and who built it still remains a secret,” said Bodai. However, he noted that there are buildings that resemble the prisons, making the name Sawajin more likely.
Bodai said Suakin gained importance after advent of Islam in the Sudan in 31H (the Muslim calendar that begins with Prophet Mohammad immigration from Mecca to Medina).
“After the entrance of Islam in the Sudan, Suakin became Africa’s number one port via which the pilgrims travelled to the Muslim Holy Shrines in Saudi Arabia,” said the researcher.
Suakin is famous for its lofty palaces and great buildings which were built in the Arab, Islamic design and, according to official documents those buildings were built in the late 18th century and the early 19th century.
“The houses of the city were built with coral rocks brought from the Red Sea, giving the city a distinguishing ornamental shape, adding this to the Arab and Islamic architecture,” said Bodai.
The historic high buildings included palaces of prominent dignitaries such as Al-Shinnawe Palace, Omar Obaid Palace, Sayyed Ali al-Mirghani Building, Mohamed Bey Ahmed Building and Bakash Mohamed Kail Building.
In addition to the palaces, there were buildings of worship, including the Hanafi Mosque and Shafie Mosque which was built on instructions by Egyptian Queen Shajarat al-Dur. There is also a church to which the Christian soldiers used to go. Moreover, there were commercial buildings such as the Egyptian Ahli Bank in addition to the Province and Customs buildings and Gordon Gate.
The city is distinguished by gates and ditches made by the British colonizers as fortifications against any attack.
“The British built gates, forts and ditches for protection, including the Northern Gate, the Al-Ansary Gate and Kitchener Gate which was later renamed the Eastern Gate,” said Bodai.
The researcher added that the forts and fortifications included the Al-Ansary, the Sudani and Tokar forts in which solders used to spread along the ditches to protect the city.
Despite the collapse of many historic buildings, the city still attracts domestic and foreign tourists. Its landmarks still exist to relate the story of a mythical city which has been and still is an enigma that puzzles researchers.
End
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